Images of America: Lighthouses of the Bay Area

Betty S. Veronico $19.95

The 1848 discovery of gold in the hills of California brought prospectors and adventurers west. Many came across country on the treacherous western trails while others came by sea. The rugged coast of California and the dangers of the San Francisco bay waters claimed many ships and their passengers. The loss of these ships and the ever-increasing number of vessels converging in the San Francisco Bay made it evident that navigational aids were desperately needed.

To enhance maritime safety in the region, the San Francisco Bay's first light, located on Alcatraz Island, began construction in 1852. Light stations soon followed at Fort Point, Point Bonita, and the Farallon Islands. Through the years, 15 additional lights would serve the approaches to and inside the bay, plus a lightship was stationed outside the Golden Gate. Images of America: Lighthouses of the Bay Area is a photographic journey of these lights from 1852 to the present, and provides an overview of lighthouse technology.

The Images of America series celebrates the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country. Using archival photographs, each title presents the distinctive stories from the past that shape the character of the community today. Arcadia is proud to play a part in the preservation of local heritage, making history available to all.